This blog is a place for me to muse about things that interest me: political, theological, personal. It is a place for the written word. The title "Jackie Speaks" is a reference to God's grace in helping me overcome a severe speech impediment.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Make Your Redemption Complete!

I have lately reflected on the enormity of God's grace and the fullness of time. Redemption will be complete when the redeemed with all of their weaknesses are swallowed up in His strength. The following reflects those thoughts.

Make Your Redemption Complete!

Father,You hold all things together,You make all things new.Your redemption is perfect.Purchased out of deathUnto life, abundant life,Our destiny is purity and perfection,Not a static state of flawless existence.Rather, a dynamic embrace of all we have knownAnd all we will forever be discovering.

Yet I scarce believe you will transformMy brokenness into wholenessMy pain into pleasureMy sorrow into joyBetrayal into fidelityEvil into good.

Can these dry bones live?Can they behold the beautyOf Your consuming face?Can they declare the gloryOf your life-giving Spirit?Can they pulse with the beatOf Your pure heart?Embrace the flowOf Your boundless love?Can they be transfiguredInto Your glorious image?Can they knowAs they are known?

Will all things be made new?Will my memories remainAnd yet be transformed?Can these thoughts enjoy transubstantiation?Can all that I am, all I have known,Be engulfed in Your beauty?What grace must you applyTo the emptiness of my beingThat I might fit into the fullnessOf Yours?

Let every thought be imprisonedTo Your MajestyEvery recollection made factual and trueEvery pain a song of Your goodnessEvery disappointment a hymn of Your faithfulnessEvery hint of death a proclamation of Your lifeEvery betrayal a revelation of Your faithfulness.

Let every fiber of my beingFrom the time you wove me together In my mother’s wombThrough every breadth I have drawnEvery joy and every sorrowPast, Present, and FutureFor as long as I amProclaim boldly Your greatnessYour faithfulnessYour beautyYour grace.

Savior,At your appearance,May I sing in harmony with the symphony of Your creation.Breathed upon by your Holy Spirit,May I dance that flawless danceAs the redeemed move in the splendor of Your presence.

In that day all that is shall give You gloryThe pit will sing of the majesty of Your holy mountain,Hell itself will proclaim the splendor of Heaven.Judgment will your grace reveal.The damned will bear witness to your mercy,In Your presence, consumed by your absenceTouched by your love without endUnable to respond.

And so we plea,Come quickly Lord JesusFill all things with Your presenceMake all things newMake Your Redemption Complete!